CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
GEMMA
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“Okay, hang on a minute.” Drew straightens and stands in front of me.
“No.” I shake my head. “I thought about your offer, and the answer is no. I don’t want to be your lover.”
His face turns a smudgy red.
There is no way in hell this man has been rejected in his life, but I know we are way past just being a guy and a girl liking one another.
Hell, he was just holding my daughter in his arms.
Which is why his proposal hurt even more.
I know I’m not the right woman for him, and he will probably marry some trust fund model or whatever, but how does he not understand how offensive his offer was?
Then finding out he told his friends and they have a goddamn wager on it?
Unbelievable.
I realize the nurse has walked back in and is staring at me like I’m a damn idiot. I mean, even with a black eye and bruised cheek, Drew is the most handsome man in the world.
“Sorry, I’ll just leave this here. You are cleared to leave. And these are your pain meds. Mr. Carrington, did you want some?”
He shakes his head, giving her the briefest glance. “No, thank you.”
The nurse shoots me with a faint smile. “Try to stay awake another five or six hours.”
When she leaves, Drew crosses his arms. “How are you going to stay awake on your own?”
I climb off the bed.
“Gemma!” His voice is firm and a little louder.
Walking to where my clothes are folded on a chair, I snap the dress off and realize there is only one shoe.
“Maybe I’ll make a bet with someone. That should do it.”
Drew frowns.
I tear off the hospital gown, leaving me in only a pair of panties because what does it matter. He’s seen all of me. I struggle into the dress, and he tries to assist. I slap at his hands.
“Get off.”
I spot Belinda’s cardigan, which has fallen to the floor, and slip it on.
“What are you talking about? A bet.”
“Five million—what a motivation. That should keep me awake.” I lift my eyes, and it's clear as day he’s figured it out.
I snort angrily.
“Sorry for the loss, by the way, but you will have to find someone other stupid widow to be your regular shag.”
“That is not—”
“Oh, and you can take the ten percent payout and shove it up your very nice ass.” I grab my one heel—the other is with the police—and try to walk past him.
Drew grabs my arm.
“Let me go.”
“Stop for a minute and let me talk.”
I’m panting, angry, pissed with myself for falling in love with him. The image of him attacking my assailants without any care for himself smacks me in the face, and tears fall down my face.
“Gemma, fuck.”
“I can’t do this. I can’t. I’m not who you think I am.”
“You’re exactly who I think you are.”
“I’m Anthony’s wife. His widow,” I cry.
“Fuck Anthony.”
My eyes fly open wide.
“What did you say?” I gasp. “How can you say that? He was my husband.”
“Who has left you in financial almost-ruin?” Drew growls, fury lining his face.
I let out a laugh. It’s almost hysterical.
“You don’t know what you are talking about. He loved me. He loved Zoe and me. I wrecked Open Leaf. I probably lost the money. He was a good man. This...us—this is just sex, and you don’t like the fact you’ve lost a bet with your friends and don’t get to fuck me anymore.”
Drew leans down, his face red, his eyes wild. His breathing is frantic, his fists clenching at his sides. “A loving man does not cheat on his wife. He does not steal from his wife.”
Cheat.
What?
Drew straightens and wipes a hand over his face. “Fuck. Gemma.”
I take a step back.
“What did you say?”
He won’t look me in the eye.
“I didn’t make a bet with Zander. Well, I did. But it had nothing to do with being with you.” Drew says, then finally looks at me. “Jesus, that’s also a lie, but it is not how it sounds.”
“Anthony cheated on me?” I swallow.
How does he know this?
“Yes.” Drew nods slowly, watching me, regret filling his gaze.
I can’t breathe.
My legs start to wobble and Drew catches me, guiding me to the chair.
“Gemma...”
“Leave, please.” I say, holding a hand to my stomach. I’m going to vomit. My husband, the father of my child, cheated, and I want to barf until all the pain is out of me.
“Leave!” I yell at him.
No wonder he made me that offer. He probably thinks I knew and stayed with Anthony for the lifestyle.
When Belinda flies back in and stops dead, glancing between us, I want to kiss her.
“I dropped my cardigan,” she says. “What’s going on?”